Medieval Women in Their Own Words: Uncovering Untold Stories at the British Library
The British Library’s Medieval Women: In Their Own Words exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the lives of medieval women through over 140 fascinating artifacts. One of the exhibition’s curators shares five standout pieces that reveal the resilience, creativity, and influence of women in the Middle Ages.
Medieval Women: In Their Own Words opens at the British Library
The British Library has opened a major exhibition: Medieval Women: In Their Own Words. Running until March, it brings together over 140 rare items that reveal the untold stories of medieval women, showcasing their achievements across various spheres of life, from religion and politics to literature and healthcare.
New Medieval Books: Monastic Women and Secular Economy in Later Medieval Europe, ca. 1200 to 1500
This book uncovers the economic influence of female monasteries in medieval society, revealing how they played a central role in shaping the economy.
The Queens Who Shaped Medieval Christianity: Gregory the Great’s Forgotten Allies
While Gregory’s influence is well known, the role of several powerful queens in promoting Catholic Christianity during his time is a fascinating but often overlooked aspect of this period.
New Medieval Books: Radegund
The story of Radegund, a 6th-century princess who would find herself being married to the man who had killed her family. From high politics in the Merovingian Empire to the creation of a monastery, Radegund’s life is a very interesting tale.
Women and the Mount Athos in the Byzantine Period
My topic this evening is women and Mount Athos in the Byzantine period and I emphasize the conjunction and women and Mount Athos, not women on Mount Athos.
A Medieval Take on Choosing Between Love and Career
It’s an age-old dilemma: choosing between marriage and a career. A letter from the fifteenth century provides insight into how one woman advised another on this very question.
Japan’s Early Female Emperors
According to conventional Japanese chronology, the time between Suiko’s accession in 592 and Shotoku’s death in 770 is divided into sixteen reigns, half of which featured female emperors.
New Medieval Books: In Defense of Women
An early 16th-century text arguing for equality between men and women. Colonna sets out to show that “women are absolutely perfect and wholly capable of attaining all the virtues, and on that account they are not to be barred from public offices and magistracies.”
Medieval women: “Highly visible, often obscured” or hidden in plain sight?
This talk will offer new perspectives on queenship as well as examples of historical figures which can enrich the curriculum and ideas on how we can collectively enhance the visibility of women in the historical narrative.
New Medieval Books: Kassia the Nun in Context
This book profiles the life of Kassia, a ninth-century Byzantine aristocrat who spurned an emperor and became a nun and abbess. Her story tells us much about being a woman and a religious leader in Byzantium.
The Legend of Zaida, Princess of Seville
Natalie Mallat tells the story of Zaida, an 11th-century princess.
Ten Overlooked Women Who Defined the Medieval Era
Ten remarkable medieval women whose captivating contributions merit greater acknowledgment.
Birth Control and Abortion in the Middle Ages
Birth control and abortion did take place in the Middle Ages and, like today, there were many medical and ethical issues that medieval people had to contend with.
Eleanor of Aquitaine with Karen Sullivan
She’s one of the most well-known figures in history: married to two kings, mother to three, and a powerful duchess in her own right. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Karen Sullivan about the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine, her famous – and infamous – relationships, and what makes her such a fascinating subject for historians and fiction writers alike.
Fiery Joanna and the Siege of Hennebont in 1342
“And now you shall hear of the boldest and most remarkable feat ever performed by a woman.”
The Medieval Superstar: A tale of singing, sexuality and slavery
Today few people would know the name ʿArīb al-Ma’mūnīya. But during her lifetime, she may have been the most famous person in the world.
Ten Medieval Warrior Women
There are many examples of women who took up arms or commanded armies during the Middle Ages. Here is our list of ten medieval warrior women.
Medieval skincare routines were remarkably similar to modern versions, study finds
For centuries people have been trying to take care of their skin, making use of many different products, recipes and practices. A new study focusing on the works of the famous medieval doctor Trotula de Ruggiero reveals a skincare routine that is an “extraordinary combination of tradition and modernity.”
Conference: The Other Sister: New Research on Non-Cloistered Religious Women (1100-1800)
You can attend in person or online for this conference, which takes place at the University of Toronto from May 18th – 20th.
New Medieval Books: Women, Dance and Parish Religion in England, 1300-1640
Those interested in how people decide what is immoral or sinful will find this a particularly fascinating case study. It tells the story of how one practice goes from something that people think is good to something that is seen as evil.
New Medieval Books: Hawking Women: Falconry, Gender, and Control in Medieval Literary Culture
An examination of medieval texts about falconry and other literature and what it can tells us about attitudes towards women, and how women themselves challenged those views.
Medieval Women’s Letters
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle shares letters written by some of the most iconic women of the Middle Ages, including Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Christine de Pizan.
The Once and Future Sex with Eleanor Janega
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Eleanor Janega about medieval womanhood, the ideal feminine body in the Middle Ages, and how past perceptions of women’s roles are still affecting society today.
